Image: Pale-White Squat Lobster

This pale-white creature is called squat lobster. Scientists from the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research of New Zealand took this image of a Munidopsis Squat Lobster near a hydrothermal vent along the Kermadec Ridge. They are much smaller than the lobsters served as a meal and are more closely related to crabs. The white color comes from living near hydrothermal vents, where hot gases spew from underwater springs and volcanoes.

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Nina Sen

Nina Sen is a frequent contributor to Live Science’s Life’s Little Mysteries series: an exploration and explanation of our world’s phenomena, both natural and man-made. She also writes astronomy photo stories for Live Science's sister site Space.com.